Discussion: Icebreaker

I was determined to approach this race with a clear head and look for the best route choices. I was happy that the rain had let up before I started. I found the first control easily. I shortchanged myself on the second control. I crossed the stream and started looking for the control, but I still had another stream to cross. So I wasted some time before realizing I hadn't gone far enough. I did my first in-the-stream crossing and somehow just headed the wrong direction toward 3. I really don't know what I did. I traveled a long way on a good path, and I thought I was heading north toward the road. I realized I had been on the path too long and turn around but hit the fence. I finally took the path I thought I was on in the first place and finally got to 3 almost 36 minutes between controls. Oy! 4 was a long distance but I managed to hit it right on, taking wet paths to get to it. I cut through to 5 and found it without much searching. I took the trail towards 6 and then followed along the bank and found it without too much trouble. I picked up the trail to 7 without a problem. Rather than climb up to the tennis courts I followed the trail along the stream. I'm not sure if that was a time saver but I found 8 fairly easily. 9 was another long leg. I really lucked out on that and went right to it. I couldn't believe it. Then I really blew 10 by coming to a section of rootstocks that I explored for the control. I was in the wrong section and lost a lot of time. I finally realized my error when I couldn't find a control. I guess that's what tired minds do. So 23 minutes spent between 9 and 10. argh. Off to 11 and a good run to the finish. I was disappointed in my time, but at least the worst of it was spent on two controls. Not terrible for a first meet.